Mbappé apologizes after meme comments spark Chinese brand boycotts

French football star Kylian Mbappé faced a swift commercial backlash in China after comments about a meme featuring his face superimposed on a "Chinese dictator" went viral online. In an interview with French platform The Bridge, Mbappé said the funniest meme featuring him was one placing his face on a "Chinese dictator," which the video later identified as Mao Zedong through an edited composite image. The comments sparked strong reactions across Chinese social media, with users demanding a formal apology.

Within hours, multiple Chinese companies announced the termination of sponsorship deals. Dong Peng Drinks, Mengniu Dairy, and Miaokelan Multi announced they were ending all cooperation with Mbappé, emphasizing zero tolerance for statements that "harm the feelings of the Chinese people." China Central Television (CCTV) went further, halting all La Liga broadcasts and Mbappé-related content from October 26 onwards, with all advertisements featuring him removed. The sports information platform Douyuqiu declined to translate his comments, citing harmful content, while Xiaohongshu clarified that its commercial partnership with Mbappé had ended on December 31, 2024.

Mbappé issued an apology on X (formerly Twitter) on October 27 in Chinese, English, and French, stating his remarks were "inappropriate" and acknowledging they had hurt "the Chinese people and Chinese communities worldwide." He emphasized he held "deep respect for the Chinese people and their history" and expressed genuine regret. However, his initial statement lacked a formal club response, and the Chinese Football Association demanded a public apology from both Mbappé and Real Madrid.

China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated on October 28 that China "valued the apology made by the person involved," but refrained from clarifying whether commercial restrictions would be lifted. CCTV's sports division rejected Real Madrid's explanation that Mbappé did not intend to offend and that players have the right to personal expression, stating "everything is off the table" until a proper apology is delivered. La Liga president Javier Tebas met with China's ambassador to Spain, hoping the incident would not damage ongoing cooperation agreements, including a strategic partnership with the Chinese Football League valid until 2029.